Bulletin Column

These reports are from the previous four issues of the Daily Bulletin in Colfax. They are reprinted here for the benefit of Gazette readers who reside outside of Colfax. Some accounts have been updated.

****************

LAZCANO SEEKS TO MOVE TRIAL

A motion to move the second trial of Daniel Lazcano out of Whitman County was filed Monday in Whitman County Superior Court. Filed by Lazcano’s defense attorneys, Eric Christianson and Jennifer Larson, the change of venue motion asks the court to move the trial to an “unbiased county” because of possible bias of Whitman County residents who could be called for the jury.

A hearing on the motion has been slated for Thursday. Lazcano, now 22, remains in jail here with his second trial scheduled to begin May 28. It was scheduled after the jury in his first trial reported Feb. 21 they were unable to reach a verdict on the charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping. They did convict Lazcano of a third charge of unlawful disposal of human remains.

The motion includes a 58-page media overview report compiled by Amanda Martin, a legal assistant for Christianson’s office. The report logs media reports on the Lazcano case and includes listing of television and press coverage of Daniel Lazcano’s trial and the subsequent trial of his brother, Frank Lazcano, who was convicted of felony murder and sentenced April 12 to 25 years in prison.

The motion contends the defense does not need to show actual prejudice where circumstances of the case involve the “mere possibility” of prejudice among potential jurors. It also notes the relative small population of Whitman County, cited at 45,077, from which to draw a jury pool.

CARLON WAIVES TRIAL DATE

Travis Carlon of Pine City Friday again waived his speedy trial right on a charge of rendering assistance to the Lazcano brothers in the Marcus Schur murder case. Carlon testified in the trials of Daniel Lazcano and Frank Lazcano. In both trials he testified about his assistance after the brothers arrived at his residence Dec. 27, 2011, with Schur’s body in the trunk of a car. He also testified about disposing of an AK-47 rifle in the Spokane River.

Carlon is expected to testify again in the second trial of Daniel Lazcano.

The start of a 90-day speedy trial term for Travis Carlon will now end Oct. 12. A review hearing on his status was slated for July 12. The waiver was filed Friday in court by Defense Attorney Roger Sandberg.

Tekoa DRIVER HURT

Christopher Solano, Tekoa, sustained possible head and neck injuries when he lost control of a 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup truck while attempting to avoid a deer on Highway 27 Saturday. According to the Washington State Patrol report, he was driving northbound at 5:15 p.m. when he swerved to miss the deer. The truck slid across the highway, struck a dirt embankment, crossed back across the highway and came to a halt on its top 2.2 miles north of Tekoa.

WIMPY MAKES CAR SHOW

Wimpy, Colfax Fire Department’s 1919 American LaFrance pumper truck, made an appearance at the 25th anniversary edition of the Chipman & Taylor Car show in Pullman Saturday. A Colfax delegation trailered the vintage fire truck to the show in an effort to raise funds for its restoration and enlist car enthusiasts for the Colfax car show which will be part of the revived Concrete River Festival this summer.

The festival car show has been scheduled for July 27 at the First Baptist Church lot on Mill Street.

Rob Rowland, who has volunteered to help event sponsors for the July festival, said Saturday they were offering Pullman car show fans a chance on a “when will it blow” event in which proceeds will be used for continued restoration of Wimpy.

A 1992 Mercury Marquis will be located on the lot at Jim’s Service Center in Colfax July 27. The sedan, which was owned by Rowland’s grandfather, will be drained of all its oil and other fluids. The car will be started and allowed to run until it expires. Residents can now guess how many minutes and seconds it will operate until the engine blows. The volunteers are selling tickets for contestants to guess at $5 each or $10 for three.

The prize will be a $400 tool set which has been donated by NAPA. The Mercury will then be used for sale of car smashing stints and then an extraction demonstration by the fire volunteers.

Proceeds from the contest will be used for Wimpy’s restoration. Rowland said painting, trim and other cosmetic restoration projects head the list. The fire volunteers would also like to repair the truck’s water storage tank so its pump, which is operable, can be used during the festival parade.

Wimpy now runs, but volunteers opted to take it to Pullman Saturday on a trailer.

JAZZ BAND TO HONOR EIGHT

Colfax High School jazz band will honor eight seniors at the jazz concert tonight. The grads include Cacey Hall, Rachel Napier, Ciara Becker, Sidney Huber, Hannah Knaack, Lindsay Webber, Judd Thompson and Paige Mackleit.

Director Mike Morgan said the band learned last week that they had placed fourth in their division at the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival May 4.

Originally scheduled for Monday, the concert was re-scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. because of schedule conflicts with sport playoff events.

ZIMMERMAN TRIAL DATE

A July 15 trial date has been scheduled for Cara Zimmerman of Colfax after she pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of taking a motor vehicle and driving while under the influence. Zimmerman, 26, was summoned to appear in court Friday after the charges were filed against her.

The Pullman police report filed with the charges allege Zimmerman was driving a 2000 Honda Accord which was involved in an accident on Davis Way in Pullman Feb. 22. The report said witnesses told officers the Honda was being erratically driven and bounced off the guard rail on Davis Way before crossing the street and hitting an oncoming car.

The report alleged Zimmerman appeared to be under the effects of a stimulant, and subsequent tests showed she had been using methamphetamine. At the time she was arrested, Zimmerman told officers she did not know whose Honda she was driving.

Zimmerman had also been allowed pre-trial release after she was arrested Feb. 28 for possession of stolen property. The Pullman report in that case alleges Zimmerman was in possession of a check which had been stolen from the mail and “washed” to change the amount of the check and the recipient. The arrest report in that case said she declined to tell Pullman officers how she obtained the check

PANEL TO STUDY FD STAFFING

An advisory committee has been appointed to study staffing requirements for operations at the Colfax fire department, Mayor Todd Vanek advised the city council May 6. The committee will study whether or not to fill the position left vacant late last year by the resignation of Chief Ralph Walter.

Mayor Vanek said the aim is for fire officials to meet with other residents and to determine staffing needs or other possible changes.

Acting Chief Clark Capwell and volunteer Milton Groom have been appointed to the committee along with Pullman fire department staffer James Young. Other members are Scott Ackerman and Janelle Harrison.

Vanek said the advisory committee’s report will be referred to the city council personnel committee.

Walter resigned last December when city council members accepted a $120,000 settlement which concluded a 30-month dispute following his firing in July of 2010 and later re-hiring in the middle of a public civil service hearing four months later.

Walter also received a $20,000 severance package which was negotiated as part of Walter’s decision to resign. Vanek at the time explained the resignation and severance package were not part of the settlement agreement on Walter’s damage suit.

Since Walter’s departure the two remaining fire staff members, Jenny Jordan and Tim Tingley, have alternated shifts and members of the volunteer firemen have also worked shifts, mostly on weekends.

EYE TODDLER POOL REPAIR

Colfax is planning to undertake repairs to the water system for the toddlers’ pool at Schmuck Park. City Administrator Carl Thompson reported the city crew discovered the suspected leak in the toddlers’ pool bypass valve system which was not normally used.

The toddlers’ pool was in operation last year after being closed the previous season because of a suspected leak. Operation of the pool last summer required daily replacement of water lost through the leak. In addition to replacing four to six inches of water loss to the whole system last year, the city had to replace water treatment chemicals which were lost with the water.

TRIAL DATE SET FOR FORSTER

A June 17 trial date was slated for Jacob P. Forster of Uniontown after he pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted murder Friday morning in Whitman County Superior Court. Forster has been charged with attempting to asphyxiate his wife, Cheryl, while she was sleeping at their residence in Uniontown March 26.

He was arrested May 1 after deputies received the report from his wife the previous day.

Forster was slated for the June 17 trial date because he remains in custody after his bail for pre-trial release was set at $250,000 during a first appearance in court.

LaCROSSE MAN ARRESTED

Darin R. Barry, 42, LaCrosse, was booked into jail here early Thursday morning on a probable charge of assault. Deputies sought the warrant after they responded to a report of an assault at a residence in Endicott. The arrest report said the suspect forced his way into the residence of his former fiancee’ after she told him she was ending their engagement. The report alleges she was assaulted by Barry after he forced his way into the Endicott residence.

A formal domestic violence assault charge was filed May 13. Barry was allowed pre-trail release after a first appearance in court.

WSU GRIDDER ARRESTED

Treondre Caldwell, 20, WSU football running back from Los Angeles, was arrested and booked into the jail here May 8 on probable charges of burglary and assault. The Pullman police report said the arrest relates to charges Caldwell assaulted a male at a fraternity “live out” residence in the College Hill area of Pullman April 28. The assault allegedly took place after a group of football players were denied entrance into the residence where the party was underway. Caldwell allegedly struck a man who was sitting on a couch on the porch of the residence.

The arrest report said people who were present at the party identified the suspect from photos of football team members. Caldwell was allowed release on his own recognizance the next day. Formal charges were not filed within 72 hours, and he was exonerated from all conditions of pre-trial release May 13. He had been ordered to report back to court May 17.

C OF C SEEKS

HULLABALOO HELP

Colfax Chamber of Commerce is looking for help for next fall’s Hullabaloo. Volunteers are encouraged to contact Chamber Secretary Kathy Clark at the chamber office.

Among the Hullabaloo tasks are making arrangements for the food court, entertainment, decorations, beer garden, corner decorations, crafts and vendor sale and clean-up.

KNAACK

EARNS NMS

SCHOLARSHIP

Colfax High School senior Hannah Knaack has been named a recipient of a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship. The award is sponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation funds. NMS winners are finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishment, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies.